Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-09
DEFENsELEsS PORTS.
The Memorial of the Dcfuniak
Convention 10 Congress.

/ IIiS -NcGDEIal Oh thc Nv 't'''''A
Convention 10 Congress.
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FLA, Feb. S-The
Coast Defense Congress organized here
to-day with John b. Cary, of Richmond,
Va, as President, and with the following
| Wee Presidents: A. T. Mcintyre, OF
Georgia; II. b. Kelley, of Louisiana; j.
b. W all, OF Florida; Joseph Lane Stern,
of Virginia; J. T. Craik, OF Columbia,
Tenn, and Henry r. Shorter. OF Alabama.
The Secretaries were John w. Davidson,
! of Alabama; George T. Hughes, Of Ten
nessee, and 3. f. Armstrong, of Florida.
f.. G. Mcdowell, chairman of the Resolu-
! tions Committee, reported the following,
| which We're adopted unanimously and en-
| Enthusiastically:
| a convention of delegates representing the
! Southern Atlantic and Southern Gulf states
| regard with alarm the unprotected condition
! OF our cities, which, in their present defense
! less state render them and our homes liable
| to destruction or to the eXacLlOn al tribute
| equally rs runous in the event OF war. TINS
! feeling of alarm is intensified by the humlli-
| aung Iact that single gunboat OF any third
rate power may take possession Of and
destroy anV of our seaport Cltes
while we are unable to defend them or to
offer successful resistance. While the nation
has long experienced the blessing OF peace,
we cannot always expect this boon, and IT j.
imperative that our ports be placed In state
dency to avert war. In view OF this defense
less condition of the harbors OF the Atlantic
and Gulf states, as well as the Pacific and Lake
States we most TespettfuIly memorable the
Congress of the United States to at once take
such steps and enact such laws az are neces-
sarY to put our coasts in a proper state OF
defense, by building such fortihcatlOns as the
engineering skill OF our army OlnccrS may
determine to be best and most important, ana
further by supplying our navy with such
ships and armament a5 modern science
renders necessary: and
WHEREAS, There is no arsenal south OF the
ONO river; and
WHEREAS, steel making ores abound IN
Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Virginia
as well as other m Materials for the manufacture
OF all appliances Of war, and we recommend
to Congress the location Of a manufacturing
arsena at some point remote from the sea
board and convenient to the steel ore belts OF
the south; and,
WHEREAS, In our opinion our navy must
be our chief means OF defensive and offensive
warfare, and we recommend that navy yard
Tor the construction and armament OF the most
improved modern ships of war be established
in some proper Southern port, believing that
in case of war our means OF building SHIPS
and manufacturing appliances OF war should
not be confined to one place, but should be
widely separated, 80 the loss of one would not
be the loss of all.
COmmendatorv letters and kilograms
were read from j. p. Richardson, Cover
nor of South Carolina; H. A. Herbert,
Chairman OF the Committee on Naval
Affairs: Henry w. Grady, of Georgia: ).
$. Cox, of New York; the Chamber of
Commerce, of New York city; Secretary
OF War EndicOtt: ex-senator Morton, of
New York; Gov. Ireland. of Texas; Gen.
Beauregard, Of Louisiana; Gov. Fitzhugh
Lee, of Virginia; citizens of Beaufort, ).
c., and others.
In bis telegram Mr.. Grady suggested
the importance OF establishing nation
al manufacturing arsenal at either of the
following points: Columbia. Tenn, At
lanta, Ga, Birmingham. Sheffield, An
netOn, Ala, or some other interior point
in the Southern mineral regions.